(19)
(11) EP 2 305 159 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
13.04.2011 Bulletin 2011/15

(43) Date of publication A2:
06.04.2011 Bulletin 2011/14

(21) Application number: 10185413.1

(22) Date of filing: 27.03.2003
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
A61B 18/04(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR

(30) Priority: 16.04.2002 US 373190 P
15.10.2002 US 272314

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
03721482.2 / 1499251

(71) Applicant: Vivant Medical, Inc.
Mountain View, CA 94043 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Prakash, Mani
    Boulder, CO 80301 (US)
  • Rossetto, Francesca
    Longmont, CO 80504 (US)
  • Kim, Steven
    Los Altos, CA 94024 (US)
  • Shiu, Brian
    Sunnyvale, CA 94087 (US)
  • Fogarty, Thomas J.
    Portola Valley, CA 94028 (US)
  • Zarins, Sascha
    Saratoga, CA 95070 (US)

(74) Representative: HOFFMANN EITLE 
Patent- und Rechtsanwälte Arabellastraße 4
81925 München
81925 München (DE)

   


(54) Microwave antenna having a curved configuration


(57) A microwave antenna having a curved configuration is described herein. The antenna portion is formed into various shapes whereby the antenna substantially encloses, by a partial or complete loop or enclosure, at least a majority of the tissue to be irradiated. When microwave energy is delivered through the antenna, the curved configuration forms an ablation field or region defined by the curved antenna and any tissue enclosed within the ablation region becomes irradiated by the microwave energy. The microwave antenna is deployed through one of several methods, and multiple curved antennas can be used in conjunction with one another. Moreover, RF energy can also be used at the distal tip of the antenna to provide a cutting tip for the antenna during deployment in tissue.







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